Seeing Dementia Differently: Right at Home’s First Dementia Interpreter Workshop at Lovejoy Centre
Published: 20/07/2026
Right at Home Worthing & Shoreham District Hosts First Dementia Interpreter Workshop at Lovejoy Centre
At Right at Home Worthing & Shoreham District, we’re passionate about helping to create a more dementia-friendly community and supporting those who care for people living with dementia.
We were delighted to deliver our very first Dementia Interpreter Workshop at Lovejoy Centre, working with their team who provide weekly day centre respite sessions for people living with dementia and their families.
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Facilitated by our Live-in Care Manager and Dementia Interpreter Workshop Facilitator, Collette Chapman
The three-hour experiential workshop is designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of what it can feel like to live with dementia. Rather than simply learning about dementia through facts and theory, the workshop uses practical, immersive activities to help people experience some of the challenges that individuals living with dementia may face in their everyday lives.
The workshop encourages empathy, improves understanding and highlights how small changes in communication, environment and approach can make a significant difference to the support people receive.
The session was a fantastic opportunity to work alongside the Lovejoy Centre team, helping to further enhance their knowledge and confidence when supporting the people who attend their weekly respite sessions.
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One participant shared this wonderful feedback:
"Brilliant, thought-provoking course."
The Dementia Interpreter Workshop also plays an important role within Right at Home Worthing & Shoreham District.
Our own carers benefit from the same learning experience, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of dementia and provide even more personalised, compassionate care for our clients living with the condition.
By understanding how dementia can affect perception, communication and daily experiences, our carers are better equipped to build meaningful relationships, promote independence and ensure our clients feel listened to, valued and respected.
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As both Live-in Care Manager and Dementia Interpreter Workshop Facilitator, Collette brings her own experience of supporting people living with dementia into every workshop.
"The Dementia Interpreter Workshop is about helping people see beyond the diagnosis and understand the person behind it. When we can appreciate how the world may feel for someone living with dementia, it changes the way we communicate, support and connect with them. Seeing people gain that understanding is incredibly rewarding, and knowing that it helps improve the support we provide to those living with dementia makes it even more meaningful."
- Collette Chapman, Live-in Care Manager & Dementia Interpreter Workshop Facilitator
At Right at Home Worthing & Shoreham District, we believe that greater understanding is key to building dementia-friendly communities. By sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for people to experience dementia from a different perspective, we can all play a part in improving the lives of those living with dementia.
We’d like to thank the team at Lovejoy Centre for welcoming us and taking part in our first Dementia Interpreter Workshop. We look forward to continuing to work together and supporting more organisations, teams and communities to develop their understanding of dementia.
Interested in a Dementia Interpreter Workshop?
If your organisation, community group or team would like to find out more about hosting a Dementia Interpreter Workshop, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Dementia Interpreter Workshops are offered free of charge, helping to make dementia awareness and understanding accessible to everyone. If you’d like to support the work behind these sessions, donations to Dementia Adventure are warmly welcomed and help fund opportunities for people living with dementia and their families.